A BAD SPIRIT. 
841 
panion for us, too ? You can do as you 
please, I suppose; you always do; but you 
need not expect me to have any thing to say 
to him. I shall speak to grandfather about 
it,” she added, growing more and more 
vexed as she went on, “ and see whether he 
approves of your going on in this way.” 
“As to that,” replied Richard, “I shall 
speak to him myself; and I think I know 
what he will say. I never said any thing 
about his being a companion for you; and 
I think you are unjust to him. If he had 
been so utterly bad he would never have 
come up here to own himself in the wrong 
and beg pardon before you all, especially 
after you spoke as you did.” 
“It is easy to say one has been wrong,” 
said Annie. 
“Not so easy for some folks I know,” 
interrupted Sidney. 
“ But I see you are all against me,” Annie 
continued, colouring more and more. “Kate 
thinks me a heathen, because I don’t want 
my brother’s life endangered by a wicked 
boy. I am all in the wrong, of course; I 
always am so in your eyes; but you need 
not expect me to agree to any such doings.” 
29 * 
